The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-13
PHIL ARMoUR's PLANS.
He Tells Parson How to Run a
Sunday School Mission.

From the New York Sun.
When the Armour mission, up on
Thirty-third street, was started with $780,
0OO endowment, it was hard to decide
Just how to manage the religious end of
It, Joseph Armour had directed in the
will by which he gave it 100000 that it
should be non-sectarian. Phil Armour,
who aided 100000 to the original fund,
was altogether opposed TO the mission
being anything but broad, humanitarian
charity, with plenty of religion, of course,
but of that generic sort only which would
be as acceptable to the Romanist as to the
Methodist, and as agreeable to the Epis-
copalion as to the Baptist. The reverend
gentleman who was fually selected to take
charge of the religious welfare of the in
stitution was given, in general terms, an
idea OF this purpose of the founders They
did not want sectarianism oe any kind or
degree. Good doctrine from the Bible,
without any theology, was what he was
asked to give. He began with energy,and
ran along for some time on his own idea
of what the little children, and the parents
who filed tho benches, needed. One day
he received a summons to come down
town to the office. Heg got there prom pity
and was beckoned over to the big packers
desk. Armour wheeled around in his
chair couple of times, as if to select his
vocabulary, looked the man of God over
carefully and then laul ched forth his own
ideas of theology.
You're giving these youngsters too
much grape and canister" he begar,
slowly. "Hell fire and birthstone are all
right for the old sinners, but the mission
isn't for them. Now" he added, with the
same emphasis he'd used to one of his
office clerks, 81 want you TO change around
and try another plan. If you don't you'll
drive all those children away When you
begin your service in the morning YOU
can read chapter from the Bible. Then
have little prayer, something short; not
longer than that"-measuring of about
foot with his forefngerR. "Then want
you to sing-sing a coed many tines"
he repeated, emphatically. "Then tell a
story" he continued, something with a
point to it and moral, but short. Then
you can have another little prayer, but,
mind you, not longer than that"-holding
up his hands about six inches apart this
time.
1T FILLED TIE BENCHES.
"Mr. Armour" remarked the preacher,
rather loosely, ~ suppose you can run
packing house, but you don't know much
about religion"
WELL" said the builder Of the mission,
very sharply, twill you try its"
"Oh, yes" was the answer.
Phil Armour's theological scheme has
been in vogue ever since that interview,
and has been great success. He goes up
every Sunday to the morning children's
service and watches the thing grow.
Don't You mind the old fellows or the
played-out Sinners" he constantly adiures,
the minister in charge. IF you see an.
old fellow in the gutter, even, don't STOP.
but keep Jour eye on the little fellow
ahead. Look ouS for him."
Armour's theology has filed MP the
benches, and they hold 1900 people. The
preacher, ever since the sharp Interview
at the La Sale street Office, has been
working on the new tuck. The service is
most interesting one. According to
orders, the grown folks are entirely ig-
nored. The whole service is for the little
o1eT. The prayers are short-n0t longer
than Armour indicated with his two fore.
fingers. There is singing pretty nearly
all the time. The little fellows are drilled
to recite verses or 10 sing solos. And yet,
the benches are almost filled with the pa
rents and grown brothers and sisters OF
the little ones. There are twice as many
at this chi!drens' service in the morning
as in the evening, when sermon is
preached.
"You can do what you like at night"
Armour told the preacher in an eucourag-
ing way after this interview. "You can
preach sermon IL you like, for I'll never
be there except in the morning. But at
that childrens' service want IL my way
until see 1t wont work"
But it did work. The dominic at the
mission now admits that, after all, Phil
Armour knew better what would fiji the
benches than trained theologian. Best
of all, and this pleases Armour most, all
creeds gather at the mission to bring or
see the children, hundreds of Catholics
among the others.